BRITISH POLICE TRAIN OFFICERS FROM THE ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE

by AirBourne / February 28th, 2016

Officers from the Royal Barbados Police Force will in future have improved skills which will help them handle cases where victims have suffered crimes. At a unique ceremony for the participants in three courses at the Regional Police Training Centre, officers from the RBPF who attended a Trainer Development Programme, a Station Sergeants Course and a special Victim/Witness Care & Support Course received certificates of completion from Commandant Sylvester Louis and Deputy British High Commissioner Colin Dick.

Participants at the certificate ceremony

Sponsored by the British Government, the courses were delivered at the RPTC by Bev Smithyman and Kerry Harding from the UK’s National College of Policing. Course content was devised following a collaborative needs analysis carried out by the RBPF and College of Policing experts.

A group of officers was specially selected to attend the Trainer Development Programme in November 2015. In February 2016, members of this group were mentored and subsequently proved their skills by delivering training sessions to the participants on this week’s Victim/Witness Care & Support Course.

Station Sergeants received a week of intense training on leadership skills, focussing on staff management and development. Featuring interactive sessions and role play, the course was attended by 15 officers.

RPTC Commandant Sylvester Louis gave an inspiring address to the three groups, noting the importance of the role of the Station Sergeant.

Colin Dick, Deputy British High Commissioner, commenting on the importance of the work done by police forces, noted that “the police play a critical role in the development of Barbados and the Force can rely on the UK for its continued support”.